A Kickboxer’s Guide To Morning Stretching The Right Way

When you think of the longevity of an athlete's career, competing at the highest level, the one man to do it better than anyone else is Tom Brady - he came up second in the MVP voting this year at the young age of 44. What exactly does Tom attribute to his success that late in life? Pliability.

Pliability, as Tom’s company describes, is “the state in which your muscles are long, resilient, and move without restriction, enabling them to absorb and dispense forces.” Moreso, it takes into consideration mobility, flexibility, stretching, and activities like prehab and rehab exercises, such as foam rolling. One of the best things that can help with the body's flexibility and mobility is stretching.

Stretching, when done right, is very beneficial for everyone, especially boxers and kickboxers. When first waking up in the morning, our muscles are cold and stiff, and you want to make sure you properly warm up your muscles before starting the day or getting in a kickboxing workout. Here’s our guide to stretching in the morning effectively to loosen up your muscles.

Morning Stretching Routine Tips For Kickboxing and Boxing

After a good night's sleep, it's not a bad idea to get a morning routine established to set the tone for your day–and stretching should be a part of that routine. Here are some of our top tips to help you get your day started.

Wake Up, Move, Then Stretch

• It's best not to stretch first thing when you wake up

• Give your body ample time to get your blood moving, your nervous system firing, and your muscles warm

• Brush your teeth, do your morning routine, get hydrated, and then, after about 30 minutes, you can begin to stretch

Dynamic Stretching May Be Best

• Dynamic-based stretches focus on using movement to take muscles through their full range of motion to actively warm them up and get them loose for activities

• Static stretching, holding stretches for extended periods of time, can be beneficial, and is often best performed after exercise

• For a better way to start the day, try a short foam rolling routine, or better yet, a dynamic stretching routine like this one here

• Dynamic stretches are some of the best stretches to do for kickboxing

Consistency Is Key

• Just like anything else fitness-related, consistency is key to progress

  • The only way to get better and improve your flexibility is to do it regularly

• Stretching, like foam rolling, can be performed daily, even if just for five minutes

• A consistent stretching routine can help stave off poor posture and muscle pain, and even help prevent injury in the long-term

Don’t Rush The Process

• Stretching, like lifting weights, takes time for your body to adapt to the new stress

• Be gentle, slow, and mindful while you are starting out, and focus on controlling your breath

• You can also incorporate stretching post-workout; static stretches, when used after workouts, should be held for 20-30 seconds for each pose in order to get the maximum benefit out of the routine

Morning Stretch For Success

Developing a stretching routine for your morning is a great way to begin the day, warm-up before kicking exercises, and start the recovery process post-workout. Use your mornings to your advantage, your me time, your way to KICK start the day!

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